LA Post: Top Science stories and news headlines

Arts|Business|Environment|Science|Sports

Colorado, Utah communities flood as yet more moisture saturates US Southwest

Violent weather is thrashing the U.S. Southwest

October 22, 2026

Business|Economy|Science|Technology

FCC grants Intel waiver to use existing foreign-made robotic devices

The Federal Communications Commission said on Thursday it has granted a waiver to Intel from its ban on some foreign-made advanced robotics to allow

October 22, 2026

Health|Science|Technology

Microsoft develops AI tool that can diagnose 'sequentially' like a doctor

Microsoft researchers say an AI tool that diagnoses patients step by step, as doctors do, was more than twice as accurate as general physicians at solving complex

October 22, 2026

Crime|Health|Science

Idaho prosecutor says he will seek the death penalty for a mom charged with murder in twins' deaths

An Idaho prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against a woman charged with murder in the deaths of her twin toddlers last year

October 21, 2026

Environment|Europe|Health|Science

Europe's killer heat this summer claims 50,000 lives. Climate change blamed for two-thirds of deaths

More than 50,000 people in Europe died this summer from heat, a record high amount, a new study finds

October 22, 2026

Environment|Europe|Health|Science

‘Worst on record’: Brutal summer heat wave killed more than 50,000 in Europe’s cities

October 22, 2026

Political|Science|Technology|US

US nuclear power regulator allows applicants to include data from agency projects

The US nuclear power regulator finalized a rule on Thursday allowing companies to use data from demonstration projects at US agencies, calling it the first major change

October 22, 2026

Arts|Health|Science|Technology|World

Trump administration oversaw 980,000 deportations during first 18 months

The US Department of Homeland Security oversaw 980,000 deportations during the first 18 months of President Donald Trump's second term, according to a

October 22, 2026

Arts|Environment|Health|Science

Calley Means, a key MAHA advocate, resigns as a top RFK Jr. adviser

A leading advocate for the Make America Healthy Again movement has resigned as a top adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Calley Means says he leaves with respect for President Donald Trump and Kennedy

October 22, 2026

Arts|Business|Economy|Environment|Science

Agriculture secretary says agency is 'full-bore ahead' on Forest Service reorganization

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the Trump administration remains “full-bore ahead” with a sweeping reorganization of the Forest Service after a judge blocked the changes last week

October 22, 2026

Environment|Science

El Niño rains batter Latin America from Mexico to Chile

An intensifying El Niño-linked storm season this week brought flooding to Paraguay, killed two farm workers in Argentina's cattle belt and

October 22, 2026

Health|Science|Travel|World

US to tighten Ebola screening with new air passenger declarations

The US government will increase measures aimed at preventing entry by people exposed to Ebola with a new requirement for US-bound air travelers to

October 22, 2026

Business|Economy|Science|Technology

US Treasury proposes a rule to crack down on high-tech investments in China, other adversaries

The U_S_ Treasury Department has proposed a rule to crack down on American high-tech investments in China, Russia, North Korea and other “countries of concern."

October 22, 2026

Business|Health|Science

Gilead to buy PepStar's inflammation drug program in $1.28 billion deal

Gilead Sciences said on Thursday it will acquire PepStar Therapeutics' oral inflammation drug program, including an experimental bowel disease treatment, for $1.275

October 22, 2026

Business|Finance|Science|Technology

Steep bill for AI buildout punishes Meta, other tech favorites

The tab for the next round of the AI buildout came due on Thursday.

October 22, 2026

Economy|Finance|Science|Technology|World

Trading Day: Maximum pAIn

A wave of worry around AI and tech crashed over global markets on Thursday, slamming equities and bond yields as investors sought the refuge of

October 22, 2026

Business|Health|Science|Technology

Merck/Moderna cancer vaccine cuts melanoma death or recurrence risk by 42%, shares fall

Moderna and Merck said on Thursday that their mRNA cancer vaccine when combined with Merck's widely used immunotherapy cut the risk of

October 22, 2026

Business|Economy|Science|Technology

GM cancels deal with new US rare-earth magnet plant, documents say

General Motors, the biggest customer of a US factory making rare earth magnets for electric vehicles, cancelled its long-term supply deal with the

October 22, 2026

Health|Science|Technology

A novel mRNA cancer vaccine helps reduce the chances of melanoma patients' tumors returning

A first-of-its-kind cancer vaccine is helping significantly reduce the chances that melanoma patients' tumors return

October 22, 2026

Health|Science

Experimental mRNA vaccine cuts risk melanoma returns by 42%

October 22, 2026

Business|Science|Technology

Moderna sheds about $24 billion as cancer vaccine data triggers 'sell-the-news' retreat

Moderna's shares sank over 25% on Thursday as late-stage trial data for its personalized melanoma vaccine, developed with Merck, triggered what analysts called a

October 22, 2026

Business|Europe|Health|Science|World

France reports first human case of livestock virus Shamonda after patient dies

France reported the first human case of the Shamonda virus usually found in livestock on Thursday in a hospital patient who died,

October 22, 2026

Business|Science|Technology

Trump says Musk restored Ukraine's Starlink access, declines to say if they spoke

Donald Trump said on Thursday that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had restored Ukraine's Starlink access but the US president declined to

October 22, 2026

Africa|Health|Science|World

First Ebola patients in Nigeria and Kenya might have crossed paths at Uganda airport

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the first Ebola patients confirmed in Kenya and Nigeria might have crossed paths at an airport in Uganda

October 22, 2026

Arts|Education|Food|Science

Nearly 1,000 Texas fourth graders dig into farming at hands-on Ag in the Classroom event

October 22, 2026

Iowa faces shortage of doctors to deliver babies as hospitals cut labor and delivery

October 22, 2026

Federal judge orders Trump administration to halt noncitizen voting investigation in 9 states

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to halt investigations in nine states into whether noncitizens are registered to vote

October 22, 2026

Egypt calls for Yemen talks as parliament weighs military support to Saudi Arabia

Egypt advocates exploring "every opportunity" to resolve the Yemen conflict diplomatically, its foreign minister said, ahead of a parliamentary vote next week on authorising the

October 22, 2026

Education|Science|Technology

High 5: Massachusetts high school students work with NASA to help plants grow in space

October 22, 2026

Aurora firefighters rescue trapped driver after crash

October 22, 2026

Business|Environment|Science|Technology

Facing pushback on data centers, tech giants are promising hosts more money and fewer secrets

With host communities across the U.S. turning against their gargantuan data centers, America’s technology giants are promising to take fewer taxpayer handouts, keep fewer secrets or shower more money onto the communities willing to allow the server warehouses

October 21, 2026

Business|Economy|Environment|Science

Peru taps fiscal strength to face El Niño impact, eases fiscal rules

Peru on Thursday unveiled a package of economic measures aimed at cushioning a potential slowdown from the El Niño weather phenomenon.

October 22, 2026

Science|Technology

External evaluators find flaws in OpenAI's AI monitoring system in pilot review

AI safety evaluators METR and Redwood Research found several new vulnerabilities in OpenAI's internal system, including an exploit agents could have used to keep

October 22, 2026

Israeli fire kills four people in Gaza, medics say

Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least four people in the Gaza Strip in separate incidents on Thursday, health officials in the enclave said.

October 22, 2026

Business|Finance|Science|Technology

Anthropic IPO stands alone as AI market jitters sideline others

A once-robust fall calendar for technology IPOs is down to just Anthropic.

October 22, 2026

Science|Technology

Rush is on to patch a software vulnerability that could impact 70% of websites worldwide

Governments and corporations worked throughout the night to update software after the AI-assisted discovery of vulnerabilities in a programming language vital to about 70% of websites globally

October 21, 2026

Environment|Science

Maui Coral Reef Holds Secrets Of The Past — And The Future

Scientists have studied a two-century-old coral core from Maui's Olowalu reef, revealing how land use has impacted reef health

October 22, 2026

Education|Health|Science

Surviving cancer starts at diagnosis and continues after treatment – earlier survivorship care can help patients feel better and live longer

Cancer survivorship is often thought to begin after a patient receives their last treatment. But planning for life after cancer is critical to effective care.

October 22, 2026

Health|Science

Baby who had 50 seizures a day now seizure-free after surgery at Children's Minnesota

October 22, 2026

Business|Finance|Science|Technology

Hacking attempts surge as companies, governments rush to patch PHP flaws

Global firms and governments rushed on Thursday to patch critical flaws in the PHP programming

October 22, 2026

Business|Economy|Science|Technology

US to award $389 million in R&D funds for power semiconductors, critical materials

The US Commerce Department said on Thursday it plans to award $389 million in research and development funding to four companies working on power

October 22, 2026

Wall St opens lower as AI jitters return, oil rises

Wall Street's main indexes opened lower on Thursday as growth stocks came under renewed pressure after earnings from mega-caps Tesla and Meta did little to dispel doubts about AI

October 22, 2026

Business|Economy|Science|Technology

Meta's credit risk indicator hits record high on increased AI spending plan

The cost of insuring Meta Platforms' debt against default touched an all-time high on Thursday, as investors grappled with concerns about its plan to spend more

October 22, 2026

Europe|Health|Science

What is Shamonda virus and what are the risks to humans and animals?

France has reported the first known human case of Shamonda virus in a patient who died, raising questions about the risks posed by a livestock virus that has reached Europe

October 22, 2026

Arts|Science|Technology

New study traces van Gogh's famed 'Starry Night' to an actual night sky from 1889

Scientists have traced Vincent van Gogh's “The Starry Night” to a celestial scene that suggests a new date for one of the world's most famous paintings

October 22, 2026

Science|Technology

Websites shut down globally after AI finds cybersecurity flaw affecting 70% of the internet

October 21, 2026

Business|Finance|Health|Science|Technology

Quest Diagnostics reports cyber breach affecting 'certain patient records'

Medical laboratory operator Quest Diagnostics said it learned of a cyber breach of one of its systems this week, likely compromising some records for patients

October 22, 2026

Business|Economy|Finance|Science|Technology

UK regulator urges pension trustees to stress-test over AI concentration risk

British pension funds could have greater exposure to AI-related risks than trustees realise, Britain's pensions regulator said on Thursday, and urged them to challenge

October 22, 2026

Environment|Science|World

Almost all coral reef ecosystems face risk of collapse in 50 years, study warns

An assessment of the world's coral reef ecosystems has found that almost all face a high risk of collapse in the next 50 years mostly due to warming oceans and heat waves

October 22, 2026

Health|Science

A mutated virus is driving the US into an early flu season, especially on the West Coast

October 22, 2026

Deportations climb under Trump but fall short of White House target, a new report finds

A new report shows President Donald Trump's administration has sharply increased deportations over the past year

October 22, 2026

Arts|Education|Environment|Science

At Cadillac Mountain, a missing Wabanaki marker and the fight over what national parks should tell

Signs and exhibits about slavery, climate change, and Native Americans have been removed from national parks across the country as part of the Trump administration’s campaign to eliminate what it calls disparaging material

October 22, 2026

Food|Health|Science

Cottage cheese is having a moment, deservedly

October 22, 2026

Environment|Science|World

Shark nicknamed 'Bukangi' foils rescue attempts, returns to South Korean canal

A shark that South Korean authorities spent hours guiding into the open sea has swum back into a canal in the port city of Busan, eluding

October 22, 2026

Science|Technology

Investors see risk from US midterms to AI trade as data center backlash builds

Public opposition to data centers may jolt the AI trade as the US midterm elections approach, with a strong Democratic showing potentially hampering the

October 22, 2026

Tesla shares slip after capex cut raises doubts over Musk's AI and robotics push

Tesla's shares fell 2% on Thursday after the EV maker cut its capital spending forecast, raising concerns among investors counting on heavy investment for Elon Musk's AI and

October 22, 2026

Business|Economy|Science|Technology

IMF, OECD warn AI could widen rich-poor country divide

Artificial intelligence could boost global growth, but poorer countries, smaller companies and younger workers risk missing out unless access to power, digital

October 22, 2026

Europe|Science|Technology

Governments, companies take websites offline over PHP flaws

Several government, school and hospital websites across Europe and beyond were taken offline on Wednesday as organizations rushed to protect themselves from two critical security

October 21, 2026

As Americans eat out less, paper towel maker Essity feels the pinch

Essity is seeing greater weakness among the US restaurants it supplies than the European ones, the CEO of the Swedish hygiene products maker said

October 22, 2026

Business|Economy|Science|Technology

TSMC seeks factory-equipment alternatives to thwart China's rare earths grip, sources say

Taiwan's TSMC is exploring alternatives to rare-earth components in factory equipment, three people familiar with the matter said,

October 22, 2026

Business|Economy|Science|Technology

How a merged SpaceX-Tesla might navigate its China problem

Elon Musk’s potential mega-merger of Tesla and SpaceX would likely face a China-shaped hurdle from regulators on both sides of the Pacific over concerns about national security and

October 22, 2026

Israeli settlers steal Palestinians' olives as attacks on harvest grow more violent

Brought to tears as he recalled Israeli settlers hitting his cherished olive trees with sticks and taking off with the

October 22, 2026

Business|Science|Technology

Samsung Electro-Mechanics gets $2.8 billion chip investment from Tesla, Nvidia, report says

South Korea's Samsung Electro-Mechanics will receive investment valued at 3.7 trillion won ($2.8 billion) from Tesla and Nvidia to build facilities making advanced chip

October 22, 2026

Science|Technology

Government websites go dark after AI-discovered flaw sparks security scramble

Government websites in Europe and elsewhere went offline on Wednesday after the disclosure of critical

October 21, 2026

Iran's IRGC Navy says seven vessels hit, warns US of wider response

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on Thursday that four vessels involved in illegal oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf were simultaneously hit and

October 22, 2026

Business|Science|Technology

Tesla aims to sell Cybercab robotaxis by end of year despite federal probe

Tesla is aiming to start selling its Cybercab robotaxis to the public by the end of this year, its engineering chief said on Wednesday, even as the US

October 22, 2026

Arts|Environment|Science|Sports

Hail the size of golf balls pummels parts of Arizona as rare storm moves through the West

The National Weather Service has issued multiple warnings across parts of Arizona

October 22, 2026

Economy|Environment|Health|Science

New World screwworm cases confirmed in wildlife in Texas, beef cow in New Mexico

The US Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday it confirmed the first detection of flesh-eating parasite New World screwworm in US wildlife in an

October 21, 2026

Australia's Fortescue warns of possible operations hit as China state buyer talks rumble on

Australia's Fortescue warned on Thursday its operations could be hit if talks with China's state-backed buyer did not conclude by year-end, as the world's fourth-largest

October 21, 2026

Health|Science

Over 500 in South Africa sickened in outbreak linked to poor water quality

Over 500 people in South Africa have fallen ill from a gastrointestinal illness linked to poor water quality in two cities

October 21, 2026

Arts|Education|Science

A botched scientific experiment returns as a Netflix reality TV show

October 21, 2026

Science|Technology

Anthropic unveils Claude Duet AI agent app (Oct 21)

Anthropic on Wednesday unveiled Claude Duet, a standalone AI agent app designed to act as a proactive assistant

October 21, 2026

Business|Science|Technology

Tesla cuts spending before potential SpaceX deal even as Musk bets future on AI, robots

Tesla cut its annual capital expenditure forecast by a fifth and posted surprise positive free cash flow in the third quarter on Wednesday, after

October 21, 2026

Health|Science

Pennsylvania measles cases rise to 1,317, state health department says

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday reported 1,317 measles cases in the state, up 31 cases since its previous update on Monday, as the outbreak of the highly

October 21, 2026

Business|Economy|Finance|Science|Technology

Trading Day: Tech it away

Buoyant AI sentiment on the back of quarterly results from SpaceX and Super Micro Computer lifted Wall Street on Wednesday, as relatively calm

October 21, 2026

Business|Economy|Finance|Science|Technology

Walmart launches tools for AI agents to shop for customers

Walmart on Wednesday intrduced new tools that will allow artificial intelligence agents to shop and complete transactions for customers, as the retailer seeks

October 21, 2026

Arts|Environment|Science|Travel

Chiricahua is the nation’s newest national park – what does that mean?

What comes next for Chiricahua, now that is has been officially redesignated as America’s 64th national park?

October 21, 2026

Health|Science|World

Pope Leo needs no further lung cancer treatment, Vatican says

October 21, 2026

Chevron to sharpen US Gulf focus with sale of older assets

Chevron is exploring the sale of some of its older oil and gas assets in the US Gulf, the company confirmed to Reuters, part of an

October 21, 2026

Business|Finance|Science|Technology

BlackRock adds robotics ETF to growing ranks of AI-themed products

BlackRock rolled out another in a suite of exchange-traded funds tied to AI on Wednesday, even as the willingness of investors to wholeheartedly embrace

October 21, 2026

Environment|Health|Science

Chemical tank leak in Ohio forces evacuations as city allows plume to vent

A chemical tank rupture in Toledo, Ohio, forced hundreds of residents to evacuate and others to shelter in place due to the potentially toxic leak

October 21, 2026

Health|Science|Travel|World

Pope Leo will not need further cancer treatment, doctors say

Pope Leo will not need any further therapy after undergoing lung cancer surgery last week, his doctors said on Wednesday, indicating that his tumor had not spread.

October 21, 2026

Education|Science|Technology

Oklahoma students build airplane through hands-on aviation program

October 21, 2026

Crime|Environment|Science

Missing caiman captured in creek area after months of roaming Oklahoma

October 21, 2026

Environment|Science|World

El Nino 'wrecking ball' could cause record Pacific temperature rise, UN says

The El Nino weather pattern could cause a record rise in ocean temperatures in the Pacific as it barrels around the globe like a "wrecking ball" causing floods and droughts,

October 21, 2026

Science|Technology

Nvidia's Huang hails Europe's AI potential, flanked by robot ducks

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes that Europe's engineering expertise gives it an edge in physical AI and robotics, he said on Wednesday

October 21, 2026

Business|Europe|Science|Technology

Europe risks startup exodus as regulation, funding and skill gaps hamper AI adoption, AWS EMEA head says

Regulatory hurdles, funding shortages and gaps in workforce skillsets are prompting European startups to consider relocating, risking a mass

October 21, 2026

Tunisia military court sentences opposition figure Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison

A Tunisian military court sentenced opposition politician Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison on charges of plotting against state security and inciting the

October 21, 2026

Science|Technology

Anthropic adds former Harvard science dean to oversight body

Anthropic said on Wednesday that Christopher Stubbs, former dean of science at Harvard University, had joined its oversight body, which holds the power to appoint a majority of the

October 21, 2026

Health|Science|Technology

Meta smart glasses give blind veterans in South Carolina a new tool for independence

October 21, 2026

Business|Environment|Science

‘Error’ caused Toledo chemical leak, EPA says, triggering evacuations and fear of explosion

October 21, 2026

Arts|Entertainment|Science|Technology|Travel

The wait is over! A first look inside Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's Primate Forest

October 21, 2026

Science|Technology

What it's like to use the iPhone Duo for a week

CNN's Lisa Eadicicco got to try Apple’s newest phone, the iPhone Duo, ahead of its launch. She traded her regular-sized iPhone for the company's first-ever folding phone for nearly a week. Apple provided CNN with an iPhone Duo for testing purposes.

October 21, 2026

Europe|Science|Technology

Hungary considers replacing Russia's Rosatom in nuclear project

Hungary is considering replacing Russia's Rosatom as the main contractor in the expansion of its Paks nuclear power plant

October 21, 2026

Science|Technology

Apple will have limited iPhone Duo units available in stores on Friday

Apple on Wednesday said it will have 'limited' numbers of its folding iPhone

October 21, 2026

Sisi says Egypt would defend Saudi territory but rules out attack on Yemen

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt's military support for Saudi Arabia would be limited to defending the kingdom's territory and borders and would not include

October 21, 2026

Science|Technology

What is PHP and why did it take government websites offline?

Government websites across Europe went dark on Wednesday as operators raced to patch two critical vulnerabilities in PHP, one of the most widely used programming

October 21, 2026

Arts|Economy|Environment|Science|World

In Honduras, hard hit by drought, authorities hope to make it rain using contentious tactic

Global warming is making the El Niño weather pattern stronger, and that’s prolonging a devastating drought across a region of Central America known as the Dry Corridor

October 21, 2026

Business|Economy|Science|Technology

Nvidia CEO encourages Europe's lagging AI sector and offers tools to accelerate data center buildout

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang urged Europe’s lagging artificial intelligence industry to get going and touted a modular system to quickly build the AI data centers with the massive computing power Europe currently lacks

October 21, 2026

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